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​Pitkin County, Colorado – October 9, 2018 – Pitkin County Sheriff Joe DiSalvo has rescinded all Stage 1 fire restrictions for all lands in Pitkin County effective immediately Tuesday, October 9, 2018. Stage 1 fire restrictions were initially put in place on June 12, 2018, and, on June 29, 2018, were elevated to Stage 2. After a brief reprieve from restrictions in September, Sheriff DiSalvo, using data to guide the decision, reinstated Stage 1 fire restrictions on September 21, 2018.

The Energy Release Component (ERC) is the prevailing measurement used to determine when fire restrictions are put in place. Low ERCs, along with weather forecasts and the fire activity in the County guided Sheriff DiSalvo this week to remove the current Stage 1 fire restrictions.

“Although we are coming out of fire restrictions, I’m asking all Pitkin County residents and visitors to remain vigilant, adhere to fire safety rules and report all smoke and fire to 911 immediately,” said Sheriff Joe DiSalvo.

All Pitkin County citizens and visitors are reminded and encouraged to practice smart wildfire prevention behavior by observing the following campfire safety rules:

Never leave a campfire unattended.

Only use established campfire rings.

Pick safe and proper campfire sites.

Ensure that campfires are completely out and cool to the touch by using the “drown, stir, and feel” method.

If you have any questions, please contact your local fire district, USFS District Ranger or the Pitkin County Sheriff’s Office at:

Pitkin County,Colorado - September 21,2018 -After a recent period of hot and dry weather conditions, Pitkin County Sheriff Joe DiSalvo will reinstate Stage 1 fire restrictions for Pitkin County effective Friday, September 21,2018,@ 12:00 p.m. The decision was made collaboratively with Pitkin County fire chiefs and federal land management officials from the U.S. Forest Service - White River National Forest and Bureau of Land Management.

Announcing the return to Stage 1 fire restrictions in Pitkin County,Sheriff Joe DiSalvo said "After a series of meetings focused on the analysis of data obtained from current weather conditions, future weather forecasts and the state of current fuels in Pitkin County, I have made the decision to place all lands in Pitkin County back into Stage 1 restrictions. The current forecast is for dry and hot conditions to continue and I, along with my colleagues in the fire service feel that the safest way to prevent a human-caused fire start is to go back into fire restrictions."

The health, safety, and welfare of the citizens of Pitkin County require that the use of open fires, equipment, and explosives be regulated in order to prevent wildfires under existing conditions.

The following open fire restrictions shall apply on all private and state lands in Pitkin County. The fire restrictions shall apply to the following persons and activities:

Building, maintaining, attending, or using a fire or campfire except within a developed recreation site, or improved site to include a fire ring/pit.

Smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle, or building, at a developed recreation site, or while stopped in an area of at least 3 feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable material.

Operating or using an internal or external combustion engine without an approved spark-arresting device properly installed, maintained, and in effective working order meeting either the USDA Forest Service Standards or appropriate Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) recommended practices.

Use of any personal fireworks or explosive requiring fuses or blasting caps as defined by Colorado Revised Statute 12-28-101 (8).

The restrictions stated above exclude the following:

Persons with a valid written permit from the Pitkin County Sheriff, or the fire district within which the fire is to occur specifically authorizing the prohibited act.

Any Federal, State, or local officer or member of an organized rescue or firefighting force in the performance of an official duty.

Any fires contained within a liquid fuel or gas fuel stove, fireplaces within buildings, charcoal grill fires at private residences, and fires located within permanent fire pits or fire grates to the extent those pits or grates are located in developed picnic grounds, campgrounds or recreational sites.

Burning of Irrigation ditches located within and completely surrounded by Irrigated farmlands, where such burning is necessary for crop survival, and a specific written permit has been granted for such burning, in advance, by the fire district having jurisdiction.

Campfires or bonfires required in religious ceremonies, for which a Federal agency,the Fire District and the County Sheriff has granted a valid written permit in advance.

Knowingly or recklessly burning during the restriction period is illegal and legal actions may be taken against individuals in violation under CRS 30-15-410 and Pitkin County Resolution 96.

The temporary stage 1 fire restrictions are in effect until further notice.

If you have any questions please contact your local fire district, District Ranger or the Pitkin County Sheriff's Office at:

The Pitkin County Sheriff has announced that all fire restrictions in Pitkin County will be rescinded effective on Friday, September 7th, 2018 at 12:01 a.m. Restrictions are also reportedly being lifted on area Forest Service, BLM and surrounding county lands.

The public is reminded to continue to use caution with campfires, cigarettes, etc.

If you have any questions please contact your local fire district, District Ranger or the Pitkin County Sheriff’s Office at:

By order of the Pitkin County Sheriff, effective Friday, August 31, 2018, at 12:01 p.m. all Stage II fire restrictions in Pitkin County are rescinded, and all lands in Pitkin County will revert back to Stage I fire restrictions. These Stage I fire restrictions are in place until further notice. ​Announcing the decision to revert back to Stage I fire restrictions, Sheriff Joe DiSalvo said “We use data and science to guide our decision-making process in these situations. The data we’ve seen supports this decision clearly. I work closely with the Fire Chiefs from Aspen, Snowmass, Basalt and Carbondale fire districts, in addition to our State and Federal partners to ensure we approach all fire restrictions in Pitkin County in a coordinated manner and are doing so in the best interest of the public.”Fire Chief Scott Thompson of the Basalt and Snowmass Fire Departments reminds people that "You still need to be careful. Warm daytime temperatures and wind could still cause a fire to get out of control. People must remain vigilant and understand that fires are still a possibility."The health, safety, and welfare of the citizens of Pitkin County require that the use of open fires, equipment, and explosives be regulated in order to prevent wildfires under existing conditions.

The following open fire restrictions shall apply on all private and state lands in Pitkin County.

The fire restrictions shall apply to the following persons and activities:

A. Building, maintaining, attending, or using a fire or campfire except within a developed recreation site, or improved site to include a fire ring/pit.

B. Smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle, or building, at a developed recreation site, or while stopped in an area of at least 3 feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable materia

C. Operating or using an internal or external combustion engine without an approved spark-arresting device properly installed, maintained, and in effective working order meeting either the USDA Forest Service Standards or appropriate Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) recommended practices.

D. Use of any personal fireworks or explosive requiring fuses or blasting caps as defined by Colorado Revised Statute 12-28-101 (8).

The restrictions stated above exclude the following:

1. Persons with a valid written permit from the Pitkin County Sheriff, or the fire district within which the fire is to occur specifically authorizing the prohibited act.

2. Any Federal, State, or local officer or member of an organized rescue or firefighting force in the performance of an official duty.

3. Any fires contained within a liquid fuel or gas fuel stove, fireplaces within buildings, charcoal grill fires at private residences, and fires located within permanent fire pits or fire grates to the extent those pits or grates are located in developed picnic grounds, campgrounds or recreational sites.

4. Burning of irrigation ditches located within and completely surrounded by irrigated farmlands, where such burning is necessary for crop survival, and a specific written permit has been granted for such burning, in advance, by the fire district having jurisdiction.

5. Campfires or bonfires required in religious ceremonies, for which a Federal agency, the Fire District, and the County Sheriff has granted a valid written permit in advance. Knowingly or recklessly burning during the restriction period is illegal and legal actions may be taken against individuals in violation under CRS 30-15-410 and Pitkin County Resolution 96.

If you have any questions please contact your local fire district, District Ranger or the Pitkin County Sheriff’s Office at:

The Aspen-Sopris Ranger District will now be taking public phone calls about the Lake Christine Fire. Please call 970-963-2266 for updated information or continue to follow the Lake Christine Facebook page. The Lake Christine Facebook page will be updated as needed or as new information becomes available. Thank you for your continued patience, feedback and interest on the #LakeChristineFire

The Type 2 Incident Management Team is doing a great job keeping all of us in-the-loop with daily information about the Lake Christine fire.

Please check in by CLICKING HERE for the latest updates from the team.

(Aspen, CO) The Lake Christine fire is now moving in a northeasterly direction in the vicinity of Basalt Mountain. Increased aerial fire attacks have been ordered to help maintain containment of the blaze.

Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs), that have been in effect since the fire broke out July 3rd, remain in place. Because of the need for increased aerial fire attacks the TFR, which was scaled back as the fire became more contained, will be fully expanded again beginning tomorrow at 9 a.m. and continue through 9 p.m. daily until further notice.

Commercial flight arrivals and some departures are expected to be impacted. While some flights may be allowed to arrive and depart from the Aspen/Pitkin County Airport, schedules will be less predictable as airspace is made available for the aerial fire attack.

Travelers are advised to check with their airlines for the most up-to-date flight information or go to www.aspenairport.com for arrival and departure information.

The TFR will remain in effect until further notice.

“While we are aware of the inconvenience the TFR is causing travelers, our top priority is honoring the TFR and the fire-fighting effort in our community,” said Aspen/Pitkin County Airport Director, John Kinney.

Updates will be posted on the Airport Facebook (Facebook.com/flyaspensnowmass) and Twitter (@FlyAspenAirport pages.